Paisley Daily Express

Renfrewshi­re firms band together to fight virus crisis

Chamber praises companies for responding

- RON MOORE

A host of leading Renfrewshi­re firms are answering the call in fighting the Covid-19 crisis.

Renfrewshi­re Chamber of Commerce is highlighti­ng how companies are responding to the biggest challenge in a generation.

The chamber is praising how businesses are doing their bit to help the national effort and especially ease pressure on the NHS.

Scottish airline Loganair, who are based at Glasgow Airport, has been providing frontline support to the NHS during the coronaviru­s pandemic.

The carrier is assisting the Scottish Ambulance Service by lending crews and one of its Twin Otter aircraft to transport patients.

The airline has also started flying from London Heathrow for the first time in its 58-year history, this is to maintain an essential link to the Isle of Man.

The airport itself is at the forefront of the coronaviru­s response having offered its long-stay car park for use as a drive-through mobile testing facility.

The operation started a week ago and is operating for frontline NHS staff only at this stage, and by appointmen­t only.

Profession­al Beauty Systems, in Inchinnan, has donated much sought after hand sanitiser to the critical care department of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

Aspire Industrial Services Limited, located in Hillington Park, are also supporting the Paisley hospital by donating similarly vital personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.

Drinks giant Diageo has donated 500,000 litres of alcohol for the production of hand sanitiser for the health services across the UK and Ireland, and is supporting several other countries in the same way.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, based in Inchinnan, is working with the Wellcome Trust to provide coronaviru­s diagnostic testing.

The company plans to produce five million tests per week in April, to be distribute­d on a global basis.

Award- winning Manorview Hotels and Leisure Group based in Johnstone has reached out to the NHS to offer up bedrooms at some of its hotels for staff and patients.

Several local businesses have also provided generous support to St Vincent’s Hospice to enable the

Howwood facility to carry on caring for patients and families across the community.

Volunteer manager Elaine Grealey, said: “We would like to say a very sincere thank you to Roots of Linwood, GH Davidson Butchers, Harry’s Fruit and Veg, Co-op Bridge of Weir, NG Quality Meats, Reid’s Food Services and Starbucks Johnstone.

“We would also like to thank Kilbarchan Dental Practice for their donation of several boxes of personal protective equipment and Bonnymans for their hand sanitiser to help keep everyone safe.”

Renfrewshi­re Chamber of Commerce is keen to hear from businesses involved in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Please get in touch by emailing Jill Car rino at JCarrino@ renfrewshi­rechamber.com

 ??  ?? Vital support The Covid-19 testing centre at Glasgow Airport
Vital support The Covid-19 testing centre at Glasgow Airport

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